June 2022 |
All text by Zorek Richards
unless otherwise noted |
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June 28, 2022:
Patriotism for many people has morphed into nationalism.
But, this is clear:
Jesus does not stand when our National anthem is played.
The Constitution is not the 67th book of the Bible.
The Pharisees and scribes practiced idolatry when they elevated their tradition above the commandment of God (Matt. 15:1-9). The problem was not that they were worshiping physical images. They were not. The problem was that they had not given their hearts to the Lord and so elevated the precepts of men above the commandments of God.
Patriotism for many people has morphed into nationalism.
But, this is clear:
Jesus does not stand when our National anthem is played.
The Constitution is not the 67th book of the Bible.
The Pharisees and scribes practiced idolatry when they elevated their tradition above the commandment of God (Matt. 15:1-9). The problem was not that they were worshiping physical images. They were not. The problem was that they had not given their hearts to the Lord and so elevated the precepts of men above the commandments of God.
June 27, 2022:
Journalist and novelist G.K. Chesterton observed, "When people stop believing in God, they do not believe in nothing. They believe in anything." Something will fill the belief void. Even atheism is a belief system. To put it another way, a starving man will eat whatever is at hand—even if it is slow poison. This is where the right wing Christian nationalist Trumplican met conspiracy theories and easily embraced anything. They stopped believing in the God who is there and replaced Him with anything and everything, often without even knowing it.
Journalist and novelist G.K. Chesterton observed, "When people stop believing in God, they do not believe in nothing. They believe in anything." Something will fill the belief void. Even atheism is a belief system. To put it another way, a starving man will eat whatever is at hand—even if it is slow poison. This is where the right wing Christian nationalist Trumplican met conspiracy theories and easily embraced anything. They stopped believing in the God who is there and replaced Him with anything and everything, often without even knowing it.
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“If Christian nationalism is about anything, it’s about power and preserving the status quo,” Dr. Augustine said. He pointed out that we saw examples at the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, which included rioters carrying flags that said “Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president.” “How did we get to that point — where those two are so closely wedded?” he asked, noting that Christian nationalism conflates cross and country to achieve its purposes. “It’s not about acceptance or inclusion, but it’s about … tribalism. If you’re not in it, you’re against it, and you must be taken down, and anything against the status quo must be going against God,” he continued. “So, to preserve power, Christian nationalism is destroying democracy,” Dr. Augustine said, referring back to the insurrection, voter suppression laws, and efforts to ban books and un-write history. “Christian nationalism, I believe, requires a prophetic response from the church. I believe it also requires a legal response from those who have legal training and care about the law.” -BJC Online
We’ve seen how Christian nationalism shows up… appeals to God, or equating God and Trump, or … that somehow Trump’s reelection was preordained or part of God’s bigger plan – how these helped feed and sustain the Big Lie and how former President Trump continued along those lines [at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference] as he was appealing to familiar incantations of Christian nationalism, saying that our founding documents were divinely inspired or that our civil rights and liberties came directly from God, or – in one of the biggest applause lines of the day – when he said, “in America we don’t worship government, we worship God.”
Of course, the problem is that no single religion has ever united Americans. Instead, what unites Americans is our commitment to religious freedom for all, and former President Trump’s continuing appeals to Christian nationalism threaten that value. -Baptist Joint Committee Executive Director Amanda Tyle
Of course, the problem is that no single religion has ever united Americans. Instead, what unites Americans is our commitment to religious freedom for all, and former President Trump’s continuing appeals to Christian nationalism threaten that value. -Baptist Joint Committee Executive Director Amanda Tyle
June 26, 2022:
In many of our minds, the Church is threatened by wokeness, attacks on religious liberty, and racial Marxism. But the greater threat is because of the the way in which many of us respond to these issues.
Jesus, the head of the Church, said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35.
Yet, as many of us respond to these threats, we are not loving one another. We are demonizing one another. Hating one another. Fighting one another. No wonder fewer Americans claim to belong to the Church.
The crusade against the “radical left” and, sadly, against fellow Christians who do not believe as we do, and our focus on the "ends" (defeating our enemy) and not the "means" (loving our enemy) have driven people out of the Church. (These two paragraphs borrowed loosely from a book by Greg Wallace: Becoming Great: Loving A Culture In Conflict)
Maga is the extreme in this equation...but there are plenty of examples where Christians who know our "weapons are not carnal" still fight with carnal efforts. Back in the 80s Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority ignited a powerful yet horrible movement which decided that "yes, our weapons are carnal" so we will use carnal efforts but just sanctify them with prayer or a clever Bible verse....and then justify it by explaining that it is a moral obligation to be involved in politics because that is our duty as an American. Jesus only required us to give unto Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar. The name calling and the extreme political action committees is not a good garnishment for Ceasar or even a Ceasar salad, for that matter. (sorry, that pun was begging me to write it:-)
It is an undisputed reality and Biblical fact that we all reap what we sow. I have been asked many times but I still cannot justify right-wing efforts because "the Right" merged with the Church....and now the Church is reaping disdain and anger from pretty much everyone who is "Not one of them." Jesus promised we would have tribulation, but no one was given the green light to create tribulation for the sake of a political cause or even a moral one that is argued like a political talking point. As Trevin Wax wrote, "We must distinguish the serpent from his prey. This is why we seek to convert our opponents, not own or destroy them. We seek their rescue, not their ruin. "
I often read dozens of editorials across the country a day. I think I get a better sense of the pulse of our country by reading those especially in the small hometown newspaper or TV station. (Something I couldn't do without the internet). My observation is that the right wing is winning strongly in the right-wing areas. But they have always gained strength in their own echo chambers, which is also the only way the Republican Party can survive right now. They are losing everywhere else....and the Magas are dragging American Christianity with them.
Persecution for using carnal weapons in a non-carnal war can only fail. It's a Biblical reality and, hence, will always be true. The entire American Christian prolife movement is born out of several scriptures out of the Old Testament.
In many of our minds, the Church is threatened by wokeness, attacks on religious liberty, and racial Marxism. But the greater threat is because of the the way in which many of us respond to these issues.
Jesus, the head of the Church, said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35.
Yet, as many of us respond to these threats, we are not loving one another. We are demonizing one another. Hating one another. Fighting one another. No wonder fewer Americans claim to belong to the Church.
The crusade against the “radical left” and, sadly, against fellow Christians who do not believe as we do, and our focus on the "ends" (defeating our enemy) and not the "means" (loving our enemy) have driven people out of the Church. (These two paragraphs borrowed loosely from a book by Greg Wallace: Becoming Great: Loving A Culture In Conflict)
Maga is the extreme in this equation...but there are plenty of examples where Christians who know our "weapons are not carnal" still fight with carnal efforts. Back in the 80s Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority ignited a powerful yet horrible movement which decided that "yes, our weapons are carnal" so we will use carnal efforts but just sanctify them with prayer or a clever Bible verse....and then justify it by explaining that it is a moral obligation to be involved in politics because that is our duty as an American. Jesus only required us to give unto Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar. The name calling and the extreme political action committees is not a good garnishment for Ceasar or even a Ceasar salad, for that matter. (sorry, that pun was begging me to write it:-)
It is an undisputed reality and Biblical fact that we all reap what we sow. I have been asked many times but I still cannot justify right-wing efforts because "the Right" merged with the Church....and now the Church is reaping disdain and anger from pretty much everyone who is "Not one of them." Jesus promised we would have tribulation, but no one was given the green light to create tribulation for the sake of a political cause or even a moral one that is argued like a political talking point. As Trevin Wax wrote, "We must distinguish the serpent from his prey. This is why we seek to convert our opponents, not own or destroy them. We seek their rescue, not their ruin. "
I often read dozens of editorials across the country a day. I think I get a better sense of the pulse of our country by reading those especially in the small hometown newspaper or TV station. (Something I couldn't do without the internet). My observation is that the right wing is winning strongly in the right-wing areas. But they have always gained strength in their own echo chambers, which is also the only way the Republican Party can survive right now. They are losing everywhere else....and the Magas are dragging American Christianity with them.
Persecution for using carnal weapons in a non-carnal war can only fail. It's a Biblical reality and, hence, will always be true. The entire American Christian prolife movement is born out of several scriptures out of the Old Testament.
June 24,2022: Baptist News Global: Two viruses threaten the life of the Southern Baptist Convention: Male hierarchy and dominion theology
The Southern Baptist Convention has been unhealthy for a very long time, and now her two most deadly latent viruses are wreaking havoc on the body.
The SBC released an independent report regarding decades of sexual abuse within some churches and institutions. In excruciating detail, it chronicles the horrific, calloused and hypocritical behavior of top SBC leaders who worked to stonewall, discredit and even demonize abuse victims who came forward.
The Southern Baptist Convention has been unhealthy for a very long time, and now her two most deadly latent viruses are wreaking havoc on the body.
The SBC released an independent report regarding decades of sexual abuse within some churches and institutions. In excruciating detail, it chronicles the horrific, calloused and hypocritical behavior of top SBC leaders who worked to stonewall, discredit and even demonize abuse victims who came forward.
History is full of example of churches and governments trying to control human behaviors with absolutely no lasting effect. This was pointedly remarked on by the extremely conservative former U. S. Senator Barry Goldwater in an opinion published in the Washington Post of June 10, 1993.
If you remember, the big issue of the day was how to treat gays in the military. Goldwater, a colonel in the Arizona National Guard, wrote: “Everyone knows that gays have served honorably in the military since at least the time of Julius Caesar.”
He continued: “The conservative movement, to which I subscribe, has as one of its basic tenets the belief that government should stay out of people’s private lives. Government governs best when it governs least – and stays out of the impossible task of legislating morality. But legislating someone’s version of morality is exactly what we do by perpetuating discrimination against gays.”
On the one hand we have the morally indignant doing their best to impose their own moral concerns on others who have different but equally strongly held moral concerns of their own. On the other hand are the liberals who I am sure believe in the immorality of homelessness but are protecting their own economic and safety concerns by pushing the homeless out of their sight, and hence out of mind....Denying the existence of an issue only increases its prevalence and cost, and trying to outlaw human behavior does nothing to change that behavior and costs a lot of money in ineffective and futile enforcement. --Jim Elliot
If you remember, the big issue of the day was how to treat gays in the military. Goldwater, a colonel in the Arizona National Guard, wrote: “Everyone knows that gays have served honorably in the military since at least the time of Julius Caesar.”
He continued: “The conservative movement, to which I subscribe, has as one of its basic tenets the belief that government should stay out of people’s private lives. Government governs best when it governs least – and stays out of the impossible task of legislating morality. But legislating someone’s version of morality is exactly what we do by perpetuating discrimination against gays.”
On the one hand we have the morally indignant doing their best to impose their own moral concerns on others who have different but equally strongly held moral concerns of their own. On the other hand are the liberals who I am sure believe in the immorality of homelessness but are protecting their own economic and safety concerns by pushing the homeless out of their sight, and hence out of mind....Denying the existence of an issue only increases its prevalence and cost, and trying to outlaw human behavior does nothing to change that behavior and costs a lot of money in ineffective and futile enforcement. --Jim Elliot
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The insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was in many ways a Christian nationalist event. Crosses, Christian banners and signs reading “Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president,” were unavoidable. Michael Sparks, charged by the FBI for entering the Capitol through a broken window, wrote on Facebook that “Trump will be your president four more years in Jesus’ name.” Many touted Jesus — and Trump — as their reason for being there.
The “QAnon Shaman,” having breached the Senate chamber, led a group in prayer thanking “Heavenly Father” for allowing them to “send a message to all the tyrants, the communists, and the globalists that this is our nation, not theirs.”
The threatening rhetoric has permeated parts of Congress, where posing with guns, often in the name of Christianity, has become de rigueur for far-right electeds and candidates. Last year Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert traded Christmas cards on Twitter with their arsenals of firearms.
In 2020, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posed on Facebook with a gun and images of three Democratic members of Congress, writing, “We need strong conservative Christians to go on the offense against these socialists who want to rip our country apart.” Facebook removed the post for violating its policies.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the state Republican Party is voting on a new platform, which puts God and guns front and center.
The first five words are “Affirming our belief in God.” The platform includes 10 mentions of guns and 16 mentions of God, including the belief in “the laws of nature and nature’s God,” giving schools the option to display the national motto “In God We Trust,” affirming “God’s biblical design for marriage and sexual behavior,” and declaring “all gun control” a “violation of the Second Amendment and our God-given rights.” You’d almost think we were a theocracy.
All of this — the rise in Christian nationalism and the literal and metaphorical weaponizing of faith to intimidate opponents — while the country grows less and less religious. --SE Cupp; The GOP weaponizes faith; will atheists object?
The “QAnon Shaman,” having breached the Senate chamber, led a group in prayer thanking “Heavenly Father” for allowing them to “send a message to all the tyrants, the communists, and the globalists that this is our nation, not theirs.”
The threatening rhetoric has permeated parts of Congress, where posing with guns, often in the name of Christianity, has become de rigueur for far-right electeds and candidates. Last year Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert traded Christmas cards on Twitter with their arsenals of firearms.
In 2020, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posed on Facebook with a gun and images of three Democratic members of Congress, writing, “We need strong conservative Christians to go on the offense against these socialists who want to rip our country apart.” Facebook removed the post for violating its policies.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the state Republican Party is voting on a new platform, which puts God and guns front and center.
The first five words are “Affirming our belief in God.” The platform includes 10 mentions of guns and 16 mentions of God, including the belief in “the laws of nature and nature’s God,” giving schools the option to display the national motto “In God We Trust,” affirming “God’s biblical design for marriage and sexual behavior,” and declaring “all gun control” a “violation of the Second Amendment and our God-given rights.” You’d almost think we were a theocracy.
All of this — the rise in Christian nationalism and the literal and metaphorical weaponizing of faith to intimidate opponents — while the country grows less and less religious. --SE Cupp; The GOP weaponizes faith; will atheists object?
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June 18, 2022:
Nationalism has historically been the great curse of humanity. In no other shape has the Demon of Ignorance assumed more hideous proportions, and to no other obsession have the ignorant yielded themselves to more readily.
It rages today in angry disregard of pre-established precepts of Christianity and religion and the pre-established rules of democracy. They strive to build their earthly "kingdom of heaven" while ignoring the numerous historic failures of Nationalism but, instead, believing they can do it better this time.
EVERY tower of Babel built in history has failed.
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Probably the first and foremost identifiable problem of anyone who moves towards suffering is in its foundation: False Expectations.
This is the unseen thorn in everyone's side. As we wrestle with suffering this virus called "false expectation" is going to grasp us and take us to places we may have never been before. It will control our every thought as we cry out "this should not be happening..to me!!"...as if we hold some special place in the universe where suffering is never supposed to dwell.
It will hibernate in the deep recesses of our soul and as the suffering gets worse, it will begin to increase its hold on our entire body. At some point we have to realize it (false expectation) is there. We can do nothing about it and remain its victim until we have this realization. We can then move toward breaking the chokehold that false expectation has on us. And before we allow its despair to kill us, we have to utterly destroy it first and false expectation will not go willingly. After all, it's claim to being there is that is is only "fair." It was through the premise of "fair" that "false expectation" got its grip on us in the first place.
"Fair" is for cutting pieces of a pie. False expectations are for cutting up your very soul.
Nationalism has historically been the great curse of humanity. In no other shape has the Demon of Ignorance assumed more hideous proportions, and to no other obsession have the ignorant yielded themselves to more readily.
It rages today in angry disregard of pre-established precepts of Christianity and religion and the pre-established rules of democracy. They strive to build their earthly "kingdom of heaven" while ignoring the numerous historic failures of Nationalism but, instead, believing they can do it better this time.
EVERY tower of Babel built in history has failed.
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Probably the first and foremost identifiable problem of anyone who moves towards suffering is in its foundation: False Expectations.
This is the unseen thorn in everyone's side. As we wrestle with suffering this virus called "false expectation" is going to grasp us and take us to places we may have never been before. It will control our every thought as we cry out "this should not be happening..to me!!"...as if we hold some special place in the universe where suffering is never supposed to dwell.
It will hibernate in the deep recesses of our soul and as the suffering gets worse, it will begin to increase its hold on our entire body. At some point we have to realize it (false expectation) is there. We can do nothing about it and remain its victim until we have this realization. We can then move toward breaking the chokehold that false expectation has on us. And before we allow its despair to kill us, we have to utterly destroy it first and false expectation will not go willingly. After all, it's claim to being there is that is is only "fair." It was through the premise of "fair" that "false expectation" got its grip on us in the first place.
"Fair" is for cutting pieces of a pie. False expectations are for cutting up your very soul.
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June 16, 2022: Newsweek: Adam Kinzinger Warns Churches Have Become 'House of Worship' to Trump
Representative Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, warned that some Christian churches have become a "house of worship" to former President Donald Trump. |
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In Part 1 of Not In It To Win It, "One Nation Under God," Andy Stanley discusses that when it comes to potentially polarizing topics, our posture, tone, and approach will tell others all they need to know about what’s most important to us.
In Part 2 of Not In It To Win It, "Shine," Andy Stanley discusses why disagreement is unavoidable, but division is a choice. We can disagree politically and love unconditionally. |
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June 15, 2022: LGBTQ Nation: Christian preacher calls for death to lesbians: “Putting a bullet in their head is too nice”
Brother Tanner Furrh of the Stedfast Baptist Church in Hurst, Texas called for death to lesbians during a sermon this weekend, saying that getting “a bullet in their head is too nice.”
Brother Tanner Furrh of the Stedfast Baptist Church in Hurst, Texas called for death to lesbians during a sermon this weekend, saying that getting “a bullet in their head is too nice.”
June 15, 2022: Christian Post: Pastor warns SBC against using 'politics,' 'social justice' or 'music' to grow churches
A pastor has warned attendees of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting against using things like “politics,” “social justice” and “music” to grow their congregations instead of the Gospel.
Juan Sanchez, senior pastor of High Point Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, gave the Convention sermon on Wednesday morning in Anaheim, California.
Sanchez preached about Ephesians 4:11-16, noting that in the Bible passage, Paul of Tarsus writes about the foundational importance of prophets and apostles.
A pastor has warned attendees of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting against using things like “politics,” “social justice” and “music” to grow their congregations instead of the Gospel.
Juan Sanchez, senior pastor of High Point Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, gave the Convention sermon on Wednesday morning in Anaheim, California.
Sanchez preached about Ephesians 4:11-16, noting that in the Bible passage, Paul of Tarsus writes about the foundational importance of prophets and apostles.
June 15, 2022: Landscape Insight: Andy Stanley Controversy: Andy Stanley Harshly Criticized For Tweet About The Accuracy Of The Bible
Andy Stanley, a pastor, and author received backlash on social media this week for a now-deleted post in which he claimed that the Christian faith is built on the person of Jesus rather than the veracity of the Bible.
The tweet stated, “The Christian religion does not stand or collapse on the authenticity of 66 old documents.” “It all hinges on the identity of a single person: Jesus of Nazareth.”
Andy Stanley, a pastor, and author received backlash on social media this week for a now-deleted post in which he claimed that the Christian faith is built on the person of Jesus rather than the veracity of the Bible.
The tweet stated, “The Christian religion does not stand or collapse on the authenticity of 66 old documents.” “It all hinges on the identity of a single person: Jesus of Nazareth.”
“No one must say that they cannot be close to the poor because their own lifestyle demands more attention to other areas. This is an excuse commonly heard in academic, business or professional, and even ecclesial circles. None of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice" -Pope Francis
June 14, 2022: AlterNet: These Christian activists are pushing back against Roger Stone and Michael Flynn’s 'toxic' MAGA fundamentalism
Journalist Peter Stone, in an article published by The Guardian on June 14, explains, “The falsehoods pushed at ReAwaken gatherings have prompted some Christian leaders to warn that America’s political and spiritual health is threatened by a toxic mix of Christian nationalism, lies about Trump’s loss to Joe Biden, and ahistorical views of the nation’s founding principle of the separation of church and state. Several well-known Christian leaders, including the president of the Christian social justice group Sojourners and the executive director of a major Baptist group, have called on American churches to speak out against the messages promoted at ReAwaken America rallies that have been held in Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, California, South Carolina and other states.”
Although Trump is quite popular among far-right White evangelicals and Christian nationalists, he has plenty of scathing critics within Christianity — from Catholics to Mainline Protestants (Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, the African Methodist Episcopal Church).
Sojourners President Adam Russell Taylor told The Guardian, “This ReAwaken tour is peddling dangerous lies about both the election and the pandemic. Jesus taught us that the truth will set us free, and these lies hold people captive to these dangerous falsehoods. They also exacerbate the toxic polarization we’re seeing in both the church and the wider society.”
Journalist Peter Stone, in an article published by The Guardian on June 14, explains, “The falsehoods pushed at ReAwaken gatherings have prompted some Christian leaders to warn that America’s political and spiritual health is threatened by a toxic mix of Christian nationalism, lies about Trump’s loss to Joe Biden, and ahistorical views of the nation’s founding principle of the separation of church and state. Several well-known Christian leaders, including the president of the Christian social justice group Sojourners and the executive director of a major Baptist group, have called on American churches to speak out against the messages promoted at ReAwaken America rallies that have been held in Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, California, South Carolina and other states.”
Although Trump is quite popular among far-right White evangelicals and Christian nationalists, he has plenty of scathing critics within Christianity — from Catholics to Mainline Protestants (Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, the African Methodist Episcopal Church).
Sojourners President Adam Russell Taylor told The Guardian, “This ReAwaken tour is peddling dangerous lies about both the election and the pandemic. Jesus taught us that the truth will set us free, and these lies hold people captive to these dangerous falsehoods. They also exacerbate the toxic polarization we’re seeing in both the church and the wider society.”
June 14, 2022: New York Times: Southern Baptists, Battling Divisions, Gather for ‘Historic’ Convention
The nation’s largest Protestant denomination, a bellwether for conservative Christianity, will elect a leader and determine response to a sex abuse scandal.
The nation’s largest Protestant denomination, a bellwether for conservative Christianity, will elect a leader and determine response to a sex abuse scandal.
June 13, 2022: Catholic News Agency: Expert says Nigerian Christians no longer view the U.S. as a 'credible partner'
More than a week after a devastating massacre at a Catholic church in Nigeria on Pentecost, an advocate for persecuted Christians says that Nigerian Christians largely do not view the U.S. government as a “credible partner” that will advocate on their behalf.
More than a week after a devastating massacre at a Catholic church in Nigeria on Pentecost, an advocate for persecuted Christians says that Nigerian Christians largely do not view the U.S. government as a “credible partner” that will advocate on their behalf.
June 9, 2022: Religion Dispatches: Jan. 6 committee must address Christian nationalism
Christian nationalism is a political ideology and cultural framework. It merges American and Christian identities, suggesting that only Christians are “true” Americans. This pervasive ideology not only undermines the ideal of religious freedom for all — which is foundational to our constitutional democracy — but also threatens core directives of Christianity: to worship only God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Christian nationalism is a political ideology and cultural framework. It merges American and Christian identities, suggesting that only Christians are “true” Americans. This pervasive ideology not only undermines the ideal of religious freedom for all — which is foundational to our constitutional democracy — but also threatens core directives of Christianity: to worship only God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
George Barnea’s survey among evangelical Christians, found that “54 percent do not believe in absolute truth.” This is just a way of saying many “church-goers,” pick and choose what they want to believe regarding the truths of God’s Word. The Bible warns of this in Amos 8:11; “The days are coming declares the Sovereign Lord, when I will send a famine through the land – not a famine of food or water, but a famine of hearing the Words of the Lord.” We should ask ourselves, “What happens to a nation that allows the Bible to be lost or ignored?” -Claudia Brantley
“Let’s love, live, and lead in such a way that we, the ekklesia of Jesus, regain the moral high ground and can serve as the conscience of our nation.....The moment we step into a ring that requires someone to lose in order for us to win, we are no longer followers of Jesus.” --Andy Stanley
June 9, 2022: Only Sky Media: Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert: ‘More prayers’ would stop mass shootings
During a floor speech on Wednesday, Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas argued against gun safety legislation, saying that prayers to the Christian God were a better alternative to stop mass shootings. (It’s the same thing he said a decade ago after another massacre.)
During a floor speech on Wednesday, Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas argued against gun safety legislation, saying that prayers to the Christian God were a better alternative to stop mass shootings. (It’s the same thing he said a decade ago after another massacre.)
June 8, 2022: Messy Spirituality: America’s Untouchable God
We sacrifice our children to it regularly through our carelessness and through our apathy.
America’s God is a gun.
We sacrifice our children to it regularly through our carelessness and through our apathy.
America’s God is a gun.
June 8, 2022: Christianity Daily: Conservative Baptist Network's Pastor Brad Jurkovich Must Turn Over Financial Records Amid Controversy: Judge
A Louisiana pastor and his church are in the midst of a controversy involving finances and bylaws at First Baptist Church.
Church members at First Baptist Church in Bossier, Louisiana have filed a lawsuit against the church, alleging that Conservative Baptist Network Pastor Brad Jurkovich had diverted funds allotted for missions to a conservative Baptist group. Now, the church has been ordered to submit almost a decade's worth of financial records to its former members.
A Louisiana pastor and his church are in the midst of a controversy involving finances and bylaws at First Baptist Church.
Church members at First Baptist Church in Bossier, Louisiana have filed a lawsuit against the church, alleging that Conservative Baptist Network Pastor Brad Jurkovich had diverted funds allotted for missions to a conservative Baptist group. Now, the church has been ordered to submit almost a decade's worth of financial records to its former members.
June 7, 2022: Religious Dispatches: CHRISTIAN NATIONALISTS AND THE HOLY GUN CRUSADE
In the wake of every mass shooting in this country, we have a brief moment where we talk about the guns used and the need for gun control. And then rapidly, the gun lobby, conservative politicians, Second Amendment absolutists, and the rest find every conceivable other possible thing to focus on, starting with “thoughts and prayers” and moving on to hardening school buildings. The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where the shooter used an AR-15-style weapon he’d purchased from the gun company Daniel Defense, has followed the same pattern--but with a recognition that the love of the AR-15 style weapon isn’t just about “freedom” or Second Amendment absolutism. It’s also about Christian Nationalism.
In the wake of every mass shooting in this country, we have a brief moment where we talk about the guns used and the need for gun control. And then rapidly, the gun lobby, conservative politicians, Second Amendment absolutists, and the rest find every conceivable other possible thing to focus on, starting with “thoughts and prayers” and moving on to hardening school buildings. The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where the shooter used an AR-15-style weapon he’d purchased from the gun company Daniel Defense, has followed the same pattern--but with a recognition that the love of the AR-15 style weapon isn’t just about “freedom” or Second Amendment absolutism. It’s also about Christian Nationalism.
"Elections are important. Whoever serves in office, it makes a difference what kind of person that is and what that person believes," he said. "But elections can't solve the problem we've got. The problem we've got is that our culture has been decaying from the inside for 30 or 40 years, and politics is nothing but an expression of culture. --After Born Again: What were the Big Ideas woven into the work of Charles Colson
Jesus sent his apostles to both Jews and Gentiles. He didn’t ask Gentiles to become Jews. He asked them to pattern their lives after his and be an example to others.
The religious leaders were always throwing trick questions at Jesus. Are you liberal or conservative? His answers helped them understand that the answer wasn’t relevant, there were deeper truths.
Liberal and conservative are social constructs made by humans. They aren’t God’s ideas. We live in an era of rapid change and people hate change and cling to something that looks solid such as the ideals of equality for all, or changeless society. --Dorian Scott; Are you liberal or conservative?
The religious leaders were always throwing trick questions at Jesus. Are you liberal or conservative? His answers helped them understand that the answer wasn’t relevant, there were deeper truths.
Liberal and conservative are social constructs made by humans. They aren’t God’s ideas. We live in an era of rapid change and people hate change and cling to something that looks solid such as the ideals of equality for all, or changeless society. --Dorian Scott; Are you liberal or conservative?
Doing what God created us to do. The average human being spends an inordinate amount of life wasting mental energy on negative thoughts when they were created to use that same mental energy to create something positive for the world. On the other side of getting the enemy away from your table is sleep, peace, rest and the creativity that God put you on planet earth to be a part of. -Louie Giglio
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June 1, 2022: Daily Koz: As November approaches, the Republican Party focuses on hoaxes and sabotage
After a failed coup attempt that led to deaths inside the U.S. Capitol and, at least so far, little to no repercussions for its Republican planners, we know precisely how Republican Party operatives and lawmakers intend to "contest" the outcome of any of the November midterm elections that do not go their way. Republican statehouses have put in new laws allowing partisan operators to overrule elections officials who report vote counts in Democratic-majority counties that Republicans declare to be somehow suspicious. Conservative media outlets have been inundating Americans with thoroughly false claims of election "fraud," hoaxes used by the seditionist coup-plotters to demand that Democratic votes be tossed that are still being trotted out long after they were proven false. And in individual precincts, Republican volunteers groomed to believe every last batshit conspiracy the party throws their way will look to challenge voters who, in their minds, look like the sort of people who would be involved in such conspiracies.
It's all out in the open—you can't exactly pass legislation giving party partisans control over which votes will be counted in secret, after all—and is proceeding largely unimpeded, though few of the party operatives shepherding the effort are eager to talk to reporters about it.
After a failed coup attempt that led to deaths inside the U.S. Capitol and, at least so far, little to no repercussions for its Republican planners, we know precisely how Republican Party operatives and lawmakers intend to "contest" the outcome of any of the November midterm elections that do not go their way. Republican statehouses have put in new laws allowing partisan operators to overrule elections officials who report vote counts in Democratic-majority counties that Republicans declare to be somehow suspicious. Conservative media outlets have been inundating Americans with thoroughly false claims of election "fraud," hoaxes used by the seditionist coup-plotters to demand that Democratic votes be tossed that are still being trotted out long after they were proven false. And in individual precincts, Republican volunteers groomed to believe every last batshit conspiracy the party throws their way will look to challenge voters who, in their minds, look like the sort of people who would be involved in such conspiracies.
It's all out in the open—you can't exactly pass legislation giving party partisans control over which votes will be counted in secret, after all—and is proceeding largely unimpeded, though few of the party operatives shepherding the effort are eager to talk to reporters about it.
A majority of Americans believe religion is under attack, a new I&I/TIPP poll found.
A total of 52% said they agreed with the statement that “religion is under attack in the U.S.” But 40% of respondents said they disagreed with the statement, and about 9% said they weren’t sure, tippinsights reported Monday.
A whopping 74% of Republicans, and 44% of Democrats, agreed with the statement.
Conservatives (76%) were more inclined to agree with the statement than liberals (34%), the I&I/TIPP survey results said.
A total of 62% of Christians agreed that religion is under attack in the country. Only 44% of all “other religions” said likewise, though, as did 29% with no religion.
A large majority of Protestants (64%), Catholics (57%), Mormons (69%), and other Christian groups (67%) agreed with the statement, as did a majority of Muslims (56%).
However, only 32% of Jews and 42% of respondents belonging to the various Orthodox Christian churches agree.
“There is little question that attacks on religion have picked up in recent years, especially during the pandemic and recent riots in major American cities,” tippinsights said. full story
A total of 52% said they agreed with the statement that “religion is under attack in the U.S.” But 40% of respondents said they disagreed with the statement, and about 9% said they weren’t sure, tippinsights reported Monday.
A whopping 74% of Republicans, and 44% of Democrats, agreed with the statement.
Conservatives (76%) were more inclined to agree with the statement than liberals (34%), the I&I/TIPP survey results said.
A total of 62% of Christians agreed that religion is under attack in the country. Only 44% of all “other religions” said likewise, though, as did 29% with no religion.
A large majority of Protestants (64%), Catholics (57%), Mormons (69%), and other Christian groups (67%) agreed with the statement, as did a majority of Muslims (56%).
However, only 32% of Jews and 42% of respondents belonging to the various Orthodox Christian churches agree.
“There is little question that attacks on religion have picked up in recent years, especially during the pandemic and recent riots in major American cities,” tippinsights said. full story
June 1, 2022:
The beginning of the age of the Church is described in the Acts of the Apostles. The end of the Church age is set forth in the Epistle of Jude, which might as well be called the Acts of the Apostates. The first book which can properly be said to contain Church history describes the deeds and teachings of men of God whom Christ began to build His church. The last epistle of the New Testament relates the deeds and teaching of evil men who will be living upon the earth as the history of the professing church comes to an end. These "apostates" will be coming from the modern church...and using what I call "Christianese" which uses Christian language to seduce the weak and will likely communicate a message which implies that they have the ear of God..but they won't and don't.
Jude 3-7:
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Our response to these events: If that age is upon us..is to stay awake and "keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
Jude 20-22:
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
It is often repeated that He will come like a thief in the night. and thieves generally catch folks unaware. But we were warned. We know better. Keep praying.
Jude has been one of those books I rarely paid much attention to probably because of its size (25 verses). But, it is a very NOW book. For me: Psalms, Proverbs, Romans, Ephesians & now Jude are always at the top of my reading lists.
SideNote: Jude 7 notes that "sexual perversions" will be part of their downfall. On an average day I read dozens of daily news briefs from Christian and some secular sources. I have noticed a very big rise in pastors and church leaders falling into sexual perversion. From Hillsong to the Southern Baptist Convention and the awful news about Ravi Zacharias (which came to the surface after he died)....and beyond....
The beginning of the age of the Church is described in the Acts of the Apostles. The end of the Church age is set forth in the Epistle of Jude, which might as well be called the Acts of the Apostates. The first book which can properly be said to contain Church history describes the deeds and teachings of men of God whom Christ began to build His church. The last epistle of the New Testament relates the deeds and teaching of evil men who will be living upon the earth as the history of the professing church comes to an end. These "apostates" will be coming from the modern church...and using what I call "Christianese" which uses Christian language to seduce the weak and will likely communicate a message which implies that they have the ear of God..but they won't and don't.
Jude 3-7:
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Our response to these events: If that age is upon us..is to stay awake and "keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
Jude 20-22:
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
It is often repeated that He will come like a thief in the night. and thieves generally catch folks unaware. But we were warned. We know better. Keep praying.
Jude has been one of those books I rarely paid much attention to probably because of its size (25 verses). But, it is a very NOW book. For me: Psalms, Proverbs, Romans, Ephesians & now Jude are always at the top of my reading lists.
SideNote: Jude 7 notes that "sexual perversions" will be part of their downfall. On an average day I read dozens of daily news briefs from Christian and some secular sources. I have noticed a very big rise in pastors and church leaders falling into sexual perversion. From Hillsong to the Southern Baptist Convention and the awful news about Ravi Zacharias (which came to the surface after he died)....and beyond....
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